The Freixenet group and the unions have agreed on a temporary employment regulation file (ERTE) for economic, technical and organizational or production reasons. The activation of this file is carried out to address the problems of lack of grapes and base wine, caused by the drought that has been increasing since 2021, according to a company statement.
The ERTE will be activated in May and will last until December 31, esA.U. I yearn you. It will affect the employees of Freixenet S.A. and Segura Viudas, S.A.U., which will see their working hours reduced by between 20% and 50% as of May 13. The intensity of the measure will be adapted according to the time of year and the effects derived from the drought. The calculation is that it could affect up to 615 group workers.
In addition to the subsidy, affected employees will receive complementary compensation from the Freixenet Group. The agreement also provides for protection of certain groups, extra pay and vacations.
The cava giant had previously tried the route of an ERTE due to force majeure, justified by the persistent drought, but the Generalitat denied it, considering that the drought was not a sudden situation. From that moment on, the company activated other options that included establishing negotiations with the works council in which CC.OO. has a majority. The file had been requested for up to 615 company workers.
The Generalitat denied the file due to force majeure, considering that neither the unpredictability nor the inevitability that would justify it was proven, given that the drought is not something that has happened suddenly, but rather has been lengthening over the years. . Freixenet was disappointed by the decision which, on the other hand, satisfied the unions, who also considered that the drought could not be classified as an unexpected situation.
